We have already mentioned that the rains of the last few days have given a major boost to the reservoirs that have seen how their waters have risen and left cheerful images that we had been missing for a long time.
These images are now accompanied, moreover, by good news from the Government, which has decided, in view of the increase in water reserves, to relax the restrictions (which had already abandoned the emergency phase) and to move from the exceptional phase to the alert phase in the Ter-Llobregat system, which is the one that supplies Barcelona.
In this way, restrictions are reduced in 202 municipalities where nearly 6 million people live, mainly in the Barcelona area. For its part, the Darnius-Boadella reservoir system, in Alt Empordà, does not change its phase but it does move back one degree within the emergency phase, going from II to I due to the improvement of its status.
The territory had not been in the alert phase since November 2022. The measure will take effect next week.
However, the drought is not over, we are in the alert phase, and so the government spokeswoman, Patrícia Plaja, reminded us that “we have no water to spare, nor will we have any to spare”, so “it is important to continue with water saving practices”.
what are the restrictions in Barcelona during the alert phase?
In the alert phase, the restrictions are less severe than in the exceptional phase. The main measures include:
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- Water Consumption: Water consumption should not exceed 250 liters per inhabitant per day, compared to 230 liters during the exceptional phase.
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- Irrigation of parks and gardens: Established a reduction in the watering of parks and gardens and the prohibition of filling ornamental fountains and artificial lakes. The cleaning –public– of streets with water hoses is also allowed, but with the lowest possible consumption. Lawn watering is no longer prohibited.
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- Garden Irrigation: Garden irrigation is allowed, but only during the hours of less sunshine, i.e., between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am.
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- Swimming pools: Both public and private pools can be refilled as long as they have a water recirculation system. Newly built swimming pools and those registered in the Generalitat de Catalunya’s Register of Youth Facilities are also exempt from these limitations. Swimming pools using seawater have no restrictions.
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- Livestock, agricultural and industrial use: Water consumption is restricted to 10% for livestock use, 25% for agricultural use and 5% for industrial use.
Consult all the information of your municipality
You can consult all the information on the state of the drought in your particular municipality, as well as the state of the restrictions in the Darnius-Boadella system and other zones of Catalonia in the drought website.